Man arrested for 'fondling the breasts' of sleeping woman sitting next to him on American Airlines flight to Virginia

By Katie Davies

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A man has been arrested for molesting a female passenger on an American Airlines flight yesterday telling her 'she looked tired' before fondling her breasts while she slept.

Saurabh Agarwal, 39, of Sterling, Virginia, was arrested by the FBI yesterday accused of sneaking his hand into the bra of the female passenger, identified as R.C.L.

The woman was sitting in the window seat next to him on a flight from Miami to Ronald Regan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Smoking Gun reports.

He is accused of then touching the leg of the woman on his other side in the aisle seat. 

Affidavit: Saurabh Agarwal is accused in this sworn affidavit by an FBI officer. It reports the woman's allegations that Agarwal felt her breasts as she slept aboard a flight to Virginia

Affidavit: Saurabh Agarwal is accused in this sworn affidavit by an FBI officer. It reports the woman's allegations that Agarwal felt her breasts as she slept aboard a flight to Virginia

Destination: The American Airlines flight was traveling from Miami to the Ronald Regan Washington National Airport. Agarwal was arrested by air marshals when the passenger raised the alarm

Destination: The American Airlines flight was traveling from Miami to the Ronald Regan Washington National Airport, pictured. Agarwal was arrested by air marshals when the passenger raised the alarm

In a sworn affidavit FBI Agent David Wiegand said Agarwal told the woman 'she seemed tired' as she took her seat on the flight from Miami International Airport and 'asked her if she'd had a long day'.

When she fell asleep she allegedly found the suspect: 'Hugging her body, with his hand inside her bra, fondling her breast.'

She told the officer she was scared so pretended to be asleep. He then allegedly 'squeezed her body tighter' and 'squeezed her nipple'.

She said she 'did not show that she was awake due to being scared of' Agarwal.

 

He stopped on the approach of the refreshment cart and ordered two scotches but soon started again, the woman claimed.

Agarwal is also accused of then leaning up against the woman. The report claims he 'pressed his legs up against R.C.L.’s legs.'

She told him she needed to use the restroom before telling flight crew what had happened.

According to the FBI officer's report, a second woman told him she had seen the suspect, sitting between her and the other woman, 'hugging' her, 'smelling her, and putting his hand in her shirt'.

Accused: The 39-year-old is accused of molesting the woman on an American Airlines flight [FILE PHOTO]

Accused: The 39-year-old is accused of molesting the woman on an American Airlines flight [FILE PHOTO]

She presumed they were 'traveling together' but was 'irritated by the defendant’s behavior' before the woman got up.

It was then that Agarwal touched her leg 'pretending to drop his drink'.

She went to talk to the flight crew and saw R.C.L crying then realising the 'defendant and R.C.L. did not know one another'.

Agarwal was detained by federal air marshals assigned to the flight.

He has been charged with abusive sexual contact and is being held in jail in advance of a detention hearing Friday afternoon in the U.S. District Court in Alexandria.

He faces a maximum of two years in prison.

 

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

I am trying to understand how in a plane with so many people she felt so scared to tell him stop, slap him or whatever... He is a creep but... Come on woman! - mike108 , Boston USA, 12/4/2013 09:36 I woke up to find an old "friend" doing something similar once. It is such a shock you can't imagine how you'll react. I pretended to be asleep too. I wasn't afraid that he would become violent, I just had no idea what to do in that moment.

Click to rate     Rating   20

I'm a female who flies alone often and this makes me so angry. They should have taken off then kicked him out the door.

Click to rate     Rating   15

"I am trying to understand how in a plane with so many people she felt so scared to tell him stop, slap him or whatever... He is a creep but... Come on woman! - mike108 , Boston USA, 12/4/2013 09:36" She froze with fear before collecting herself and reporting it and you blame her for it. Unbelievable.

Click to rate     Rating   19

Pretended to be asleep???? I would have pretended to elbow him in his crotch and then one to his nose!

Click to rate     Rating   19

You should have slapped him before he could do all those nasty things to you, and then spit on his face.

Click to rate     Rating   10

I would have punched him after I broke his hand.

Click to rate     Rating   11

America has gone NUTS. 1) Women being molested on planes [this is not the 1st BTW]. 2) Young girls plied with alcohol and then raped and photograph. Then public humiliated over the internet. 3) Flash mobs of black youths looting stores or attacking people on the streets. 4) I won't even go into the mass killings in our schools and theaters. What the hell went wrong and when? Obama get the hell off the talk shows and your numerous vacations and lead. You are not royalty dam it !

Click to rate     Rating   4

A full airplane? Yell and scream lady. Likely a few guys would have taken charge of this villain!

Click to rate     Rating   10

Didn't yo mama tell u keep yo hands to yo self so much d-I-s-r-e-s-p-e-c-t

Click to rate     Rating   7

LOL tttwister

Click to rate     Rating   2

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